The FSID (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths) have released the findings of a study that says using a dummy to settle your baby can help to reduce the risk of cot death even if your baby is just having a short nap.

It is important to note that money was not given by dummy or soother manufacturers to fund the research.

When can I start to use a dummy?

Early breastfeeding can be disrupted if you introduce a dummy too soon so wait until your baby is a month old so that breastfeeding is well established.

Are there any guide lines for using a dummy?

If the dummy pops out during a sleep don’t worry and don’t try to put it back in to your baby’s mouth however if your baby wakes up give him the dummy and settle him back down.

You must never try to force your baby to take a dummy if they are refusing to hold it in their mouth.

Never coat the dummy in anything sweet to try to make it more attractive to your baby.

How long should I use a dummy for?

The risk from cot death drops significantly once your baby reaches six months old so from this point up to the age of a year old you need to gradually wean your child off the dummy to prevent it causing dental problems.

*This article was researched on the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths web site.

Who are the FSID?

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) are a charity who’s goal is to prevent sudden death in babies and to promote infant health.

As well as funding research and distributing information to health care professionals along with the general public they also support families who have tragically lost their babies to cot death and work to improve the investigations in to what has happened when a baby dies.

For more information about the FSID or the work that they do please CLICK HERE